AS1907417, a novel GPR119 agonist, as an insulinotropic and β-cell preservative agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

G-protein-coupled receptor (GPR) 119 is involved in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) and represents a promising target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes as it is highly expressed in pancreatic beta-cells. Although a number of oral GPR119 agonists have been developed, their inability to adequately directly preserve beta-cell function limits their effectiveness. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic potential of a novel small-molecule GPR119 agonist, AS1907417, which represents a modified form of a 2,4,6-tri-substituted pyrimidine core agonist, AS1269574, we previously identified. The exposure of HEK293 cells expressing human GPR119, NIT-1 cells expressing human insulin promoter, and the pancreatic beta-cell line MIN-6-B1 to AS1907417, enhanced intracellular cAMP, GSIS, and human insulin promoter activity, respectively. In in vivo experiments involving fasted normal mice, a single dose of AS1907417 improved glucose tolerance, but did not affect plasma glucose or insulin levels. Twice-daily doses of AS1907417 for 4 weeks in diabetic db/db, aged db/db mice, ob/ob mice, and Zucker diabetic fatty rats reduced hemoglobin A1c levels by 1.6%, 0.8%, 1.5%, and 0.9%, respectively. In db/db mice, AS1907417 improved plasma glucose, plasma insulin, pancreatic insulin content, lipid profiles, and increased pancreatic insulin and pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 (PDX-1) mRNA levels. These data demonstrate that novel GPR119 agonist AS1907417 not only effectively controls glucose levels, but also preserves pancreatic beta-cell function. We therefore propose that AS1907417 represents a new type of antihyperglycemic agent with promising potential for the effective treatment of type 2 diabetes. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.